Assessment of Backyard Poultry Keeping Practices Among Urban Households in Abuja

This study assesses backyard poultry keeping practices and their contribution to household food security among urban households in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, North Central Nigeria. Backyard poultry keeping is a widespread livelihood activity among low and middle-income urban households in Abuja, providing eggs, meat, and supplementary income. However, urban poultry practices also raise public health concerns related to disease spillover, waste management, and biosecurity. This study uses a descriptive survey design, collecting data from 180 urban households keeping backyard poultry in Gwagwalada, Bwari, and Kuje area councils through structured questionnaires. Flock sizes, bird types, management systems, disease management practices, biosecurity measures, food security contributions, and public health risk behaviours are assessed. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis are applied. Findings reveal that backyard flocks average 14 birds per household, predominantly local ecotype chickens supplemented with guinea fowl and pigeons. Feeding is predominantly on household refuse, kitchen waste, and occasional grain supplements. Newcastle disease causes average annual mortality of 42 percent in unsupplemented flocks. Only 12 percent of households vaccinate birds, and 78 percent allow free-range access to public spaces creating biosecurity risks. Egg and meat production from backyard flocks contributes estimated 28 percent of household animal protein consumption. The study concludes that backyard poultry makes meaningful nutritional contributions but poses significant disease risks in urban Abuja. It recommends a targeted urban poultry biosecurity training programme through area council agricultural services.

Keywords: backyard poultry, urban households, Abuja, food security, biosecurity.